Lake Biel

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Lake Biel
Bielersee
Lac de Bienne
image_lake = Bielersee.jpg
location=Canton of Berne
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
coords = coord|47|5|N|7|10|E|type:waterbody_region:CH-BE|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow =
catchment = 8305 km²
basin_countries = Switzerland
length = 15 km
width = 4.1 km
area = 39.3 km²
depth =
max-depth = 74 m
volume = 1.12 km³
residence_time = 58 days
shore =
elevation = 429 m
islands = Sankt-Petersinsel
cities = Biel/Bienne ("see list")

Lake Biel-Bienne (German: "Bielersee", French: "Lac de Bienne") is a lake in the west of Switzerland. Together with Lake Murten/Morat and Lake Neuchâtel, it is one of the three large lakes in the Jura region of Switzerland. It lies approximately at coord|47|5|N|7|10|E|type:waterbody_region:CH, at the language boundary between German & French speaking areas.

The lake is 15 km long and up to 4.1 km wide. Its surface area is 39.3 km², the maximum depth 74 m. The lake is located at 429 metres above sea level.

Lake Biel-Bienne has a catchment area of about 8,305 km². Water remains in the lake for an average of 58 days. The river Aare, the river Zihl/Thielle flowing from Lake Neuchâtel, the Twannbach draining water down from the surplombing first Jura mountain range and the river Suze draining water down from the Vallon de St. Imier, are the main tributaries. The river Aare was redirected into the lake in 1878, in order to prevent the flooding of the nearby area called "Seeland", and drains the water out of the lake down to Büren through a simultaneously man-made channel. The level of all three lakes is being controlled by a dam built across the channel, in Nidau.

The largest settlement along the shores of Lake Biel-Bienne are the bilingual city of Biel/Bienne and its sister city Nidau, both located on the northern end The Sankt-Petersinsel (island) attracts tourists, mainly families. The island is located near Erlach. Jean-Jacques Rousseau once spent a few months on the island.

One of the main business in the area is the watch and affiliated microtechnic industries. World famous watch brands have there sites and headquarters in the area, including the Swatch Group and Rolex movements manufacture.

Cities and villages on the lake

As the lake is located on the border of the French and German language regions, most places have names in both languages, though not all versions are still in use.

*Bipschal - Bévesier
*Erlach - Cerlier
*Gaicht - Jugy
*Gerolfingen
*Hagneck
*Ipsach
*Landern - Le Landeron (Canton of Neuchâtel)
*Ligerz - Gléresse
*Lüscherz - Locras
*Mörigen - Morenges
*Neuenstadt - La Neuveville
*Nidau
*Sankt-Petersinsel - Ile de Saint-Pierre
*Schafis - Chavanne
*Schernelz - Cernaux
*Sutz-Lattrigen
*Täuffelen
*Tüscherz - Daucher
*Twann - Douanne
*Vinelz - Fénil
*Vingelz - Vigneules
*Wingreis - Vingras

External links

*HDS|8646
* [http://www.hydrodaten.admin.ch/e/2208.htm Waterlevels of Lake Biel] at Ligerz